SR Osmani passes away

SR Osmani, former chairman of Petrobangla, passed away due to a massive heart attack on Friday night.
A chartered accountant who built his career in Petrobangla, Osmani fell ill during Tarabi prayers at a mosque in Lalmatia in the city. He was immediately taken to a hospital, but the doctors declared him dead.
Osmani served as Petrobangla chairman from 2003 to October 2005 when he was removed from the post under pressure from a business lobby headed by the then influential Hawa Bhaban men.
He was then transferred to Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) from where he returned to Petrobangla after more than a year and retired. Since then, he had dedicated himself to social welfare activities.
Regarded as one of the finest officers of Petrobangla, Osmani will be best remembered for his role in the government negotiations for Tata's 2 billion US dollars investment proposal that demanded 20 years guaranteed gas supply. His financial dissection of the proposal helped the government to raise its points competently.
He came under fire of some influential lawmakers of the then ruling BNP who were trying to make money by interfering with Petrobangla's projects and Osmani was trying to prevent the wrong-doings.
Osmani had joined the Oil and Gas Development Corporation of Pakistan in 1969-70. After independence, the corporation has been turned into Petrobangla and he continued his career there. He became a chartered accountant in 1982.
He left behind his wife, two daughters and a son.
His namaz-e-janaza was held at his Lalmatia residence. Former energy secretary Nasir Uddin, ex-Petrobangla chairman Hossain Monsur, directors and officials of Petrobangla and its affiliates attended the janaza.